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Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
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 Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 12:54 am Post subject: Should we lubricate our balls ? |
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Since the 1950's, in England, my parents, family and friends have owned a variety of trailers and caravans.
One thing that was always considered important was to have a clean, (free from grit and dirt) but lubricated (grease) ball and socket coupling.
In engineering terms it makes sense, as dry metal to metal is to be avoided as much as possible.
After moving to Canada, I have been consistently surprised to find that trailer couplings remain dry and a quick look around any car park will reveal a majority of rusting balls.
Is lubrication a British thing ? I would love to hear the opinions from forum members around the world. |
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Brian M
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 783
Location: Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:35 am Post subject: |
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The modern ALKO hitches must not be greased as it contaminates the "plastic" pads that are inside the hitch head. Their advice is to thoroughly clean your tow ball with white spirit or similar to get rid of all dirt, grease,
etc. before hitching up.
What damage is done by a rusty ball inside one of these "advanced" hitches?
Like you Peter, I prefer you have my balls well greased to avoid chafing and to stop them rusting.
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Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4280
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:40 am Post subject: |
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I do, it just seems a natural thing too do, and as it can be weeks or longer between towing it stops things rusting, something that also seems sensible 
Dave |
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emmerson
Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 1268
Location: South East Wales
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| BrianM is right,. Modern caravan hitches must have dry balls ( Ooh, that sounds painful!) Grease will ruin the friction pads. Those of us with older vans and trailers don't have a problem, but trouble can arise if you have mixed old and modern hitches! |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4880
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
| emmerson wrote: | | BrianM is right,. Modern caravan hitches must have dry balls ( Ooh, that sounds painful!) Grease will ruin the friction pads. Those of us with older vans and trailers don't have a problem, but trouble can arise if you have mixed old and modern hitches! |
If you have the older type of bolted hitch, have 2 and keep one dry and the other greased, likewise if you have modern swan neck removeable hitches; what you do if your hitch isn't removable I don't know--- is it reasonable to use a tradtional hitch dry?
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Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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emmerson
Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 1268
Location: South East Wales
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Penman wrote: | Hi
| emmerson wrote: | | BrianM is right,. Modern caravan hitches must have dry balls ( Ooh, that sounds painful!) Grease will ruin the friction pads. Those of us with older vans and trailers don't have a problem, but trouble can arise if you have mixed old and modern hitches! |
If you have the older type of bolted hitch, have 2 and keep one dry and the other greased, likewise if you have modern swan neck removeable hitches; what you do if your hitch isn't removable I don't know--- is it reasonable to use a tradtional hitch dry? |
I suppose that would depend on the length of the tow. BrianM and I sometimes tow for long distances in Europe. Dapping around locally wouldn't hurt, but the 4,000 miles I towed back in the summer (?) would not have done much for either ball or hitch. |
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gillberry
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 702
Location: Norwich
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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All our towballs and our caravan hitch are greased , we have no intention of changing our classic caravan and so the need for a dry towball will not arise .
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1968 Volvo Amazon estate (Gracie)
1967 Cheltenham Nyala caravan |
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Fluffle-Valve
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 521
Location: At my computer in a bungalow in Duston, Northampton.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:39 pm Post subject: |
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I had to ask the wife and she said old greased balls is the way to go....  
However, I have heard that the new fangle anti-sway hitches should be as dry as dry can be. 
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 Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive. |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4280
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| emmerson wrote: | | BrianM is right,. Modern caravan hitches must have dry balls ( Ooh, that sounds painful!) Grease will ruin the friction pads. Those of us with older vans and trailers don't have a problem, but trouble can arise if you have mixed old and modern hitches! |
So how do we determine if we have a "Modern hitch"?
Dave |
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Fluffle-Valve
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 521
Location: At my computer in a bungalow in Duston, Northampton.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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| ukdave2002 wrote: | | emmerson wrote: | | BrianM is right,. Modern caravan hitches must have dry balls ( Ooh, that sounds painful!) Grease will ruin the friction pads. Those of us with older vans and trailers don't have a problem, but trouble can arise if you have mixed old and modern hitches! |
So how do we determine if we have a "Modern hitch"?
Dave |
It'll be one of them with a built in anti-sway locking thingy... An Alco one I believe?
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Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive. |
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emmerson
Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 1268
Location: South East Wales
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Fluffle-Valve wrote: | | ukdave2002 wrote: | | emmerson wrote: | | BrianM is right,. Modern caravan hitches must have dry balls ( Ooh, that sounds painful!) Grease will ruin the friction pads. Those of us with older vans and trailers don't have a problem, but trouble can arise if you have mixed old and modern hitches! |
So how do we determine if we have a "Modern hitch"?
Dave |
It'll be one of them with a built in anti-sway locking thingy... An Alco one I believe? |
That's right, and you can identify it by the big red handle, which must be physically pressed down hard to engage. Take a look at any new caravan and you'll see the difference. |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4280
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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Ahh ok, so it's not modern hitches on trailers but only those with stabilises, ref an earlier post...
Still unsure how grease attacks plastic?
Dave |
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Fluffle-Valve
Joined: 30 Dec 2009
Posts: 521
Location: At my computer in a bungalow in Duston, Northampton.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:09 am Post subject: |
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| ukdave2002 wrote: | Ahh ok, so it's not modern hitches on trailers but only those with stabilises, ref an earlier post...
Still unsure how grease attacks plastic?
Dave |
If there is grease on the modern Alko type the plastic locking anti-sway won't work.
I can't see that the grease will do any harm to the plastic itself though.
Have a read about Stabilisers HERE
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Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive. |
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Dalek63
Joined: 15 Aug 2009
Posts: 490
Location: North Cornwall
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| Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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If you have old or vintage balls they have to be greased to stop friction wearing them away. 
_________________
I can resist anything except temptation ! ( Oscar Wilde)
"Don't try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." ( Mark Twain)
http://www.period-classic-caravan-club.co.uk/ |
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Brian M
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 783
Location: Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
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| Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:01 am Post subject: |
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As usual I was talking a load of balls. (No need to censor as that was the topic!!)
I spoke to an owner of a new caravan who put me straight - Grease doesn't contaminate the plastic pads, it just stops them working. They are designed to grip the ball to prevent sway, so a greased ball defeats the object.
So my next question is how do they know when it is a sway and not the outfit turning a corner?
I never will understand this new technology
_________________
Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk
Last edited by Brian M on Tue Oct 29, 2013 6:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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